Retreat is an extraordinary opportunity to disengage from the rhythms and habits of our daily lives and bring ourselves wholeheartedly to meditative practice. As we engage periods of sitting and walking meditation, daily meals and Dharma instruction, we observe and investigate what is happening in our minds and hearts to see and welcome the deepest truth of all that arises. In this way we can explore the roots of our suffering, as well as our potential depths of peace, compassion and wisdom. Through this noble practice we may get a taste of the radical freedom of being present with what is and to fully realize the teachings of the Dharma.

Whatever your level of meditation practice, we are confident that you will find a suitable retreat on our schedule. If you have any questions about whether a retreat would be a good fit for your particular experience and aspirations, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Cloud Mountain office. It is an important part of our mission to help students find the most appropriate avenues for spiritual deepening, and encourage you to contact us with any questions you might have about choosing a retreat.

Retreat Format

Retreats are conducted primarily in silence, commonly referred to as Noble Silence. This offers a rare and precious opportunity to simplify one's daily routine, quiet the mind and cultivate an inward focus of attention. The Five Precepts are observed by everyone at Cloud Mountain: retreatants, staff and teachers alike as the foundation of our behaviors.

Each individual engages his or her own mind during retreat. The environment is held and maintained to allow space, support and acceptance for that process to unfold gently and organically. At the same time, retreat is also a collective and collaborative process. Energetically, what unfolds takes place individually also takes place within a relational field. Along with silence and stillness, the integrity and cohesion of the activities of the group as a whole form an invisible but palpable support for the practice of each individual.

To deepen and strengthen this relational field, retreatants are expected to follow, with mindfulness and sincerity, the retreat schedule and guidelines established by teachers and staff. We ask each retreatant to accept personal responsibility for their contribution to creating an environment intended to support each and every participant equally. Arriving and departing on time, following the retreat schedule, fully participating in working meditations—all of these elements help us to keep practical retreat operations flowing smoothly, but also contribute in real ways to creating a strong and seamless container from which the group as a whole benefits.

Who Comes on Meditation Retreats?

Our retreats are attended by a wide variety of individuals. All are welcome at Cloud Mountain; we feel privileged to support you in your spiritual practice regardless of your nationality, ethnicity, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, age, physical ability, political affiliation or even religion. You do not have to be a Buddhist to benefit from the universal and practical teachings offered on retreat.

Unless specifically noted, all of our retreats are suitable and appropriate for individuals of all degrees of meditation experience, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners.

We have several retreats throughout the year specifically offered for beginning meditators. These are short, weekend retreats designed to provide an introduction to foundational Buddhist teachings and meditation practices.

We also offer retreats that are designed to serve the needs and interests of more experienced meditators. These retreats are specifically noted as suitable only for experienced students and each will have specific prerequisites. If you are applying for a retreat that lists prerequisites, please include in your registration materials a list of your practice experience in adequate detail to verify you meet the experience requirements.

Whatever your level of meditation practice, we are confident that you will find a suitable retreat on our schedule. If you have any questions about whether a retreat would be a good fit for your particular experience and aspirations, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Cloud Mountain office. It is an important part of our mission to help students find the most appropriate avenues for spiritual deepening, and encourage you to contact us with any questions you might have about choosing a retreat.

A Typical Daily Retreat Schedule

Who Comes on Meditation Retreats?

This schedule is a sample of a typical day on retreat at Cloud Mountain. The schedule and content for each retreat are decided by the teachers and may vary from what is displayed below. However, you can expect any retreat schedule to feature three daily meals and meal breaks, working meditations, alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, Dharma instructions, and Dharma talks focused on aspects of the Buddha's teachings or on Dharma practice.

5:45am

Wake-up

6:15

Sitting Meditation

7:00

Breakfast & Morning Working Meditation Tasks

8:30

Meditation Instructions & Sitting

9:30

Walking Meditation

10:15

Sitting

11:00

Walking

11:30

Sitting

12:00pm

Lunch & Afternoon Working Meditation Tasks

2:00

Sitting

2:45

Walking (or practice discussions with the teacher)

3:30

Sitting

4:15

Walking (or practice discussions with the teacher)

5:00

Dinner & Evening Working Meditation Tasks

6:30

Sitting

7:00

Walking

7:30

Dharma Talk

8:15

Walking

8:45

Sitting

9:30

Sleep or continued practice

FAQs

May I arrange a personal retreat at Cloud Mountain?
Unfortunately we do not offer personal retreats.
For unguided personal retreats, you might contact Trout Lake Abbey in Trout Lake, WA.
For personal retreats with guidance available, you might contact Vipassana Metta Foundation on Maui or the Forest Refuge in Barre, MA.

Can my meditation group rent your facility to hold our retreat?
While it is rare, we occasionally arrange facility rentals for independent, outside groups on a case-by-case basis where there is a strong affinity or alignment of purpose and view with that of Cloud Mountain.
You will find other retreat centers listed on the internet that can provide these kinds of retreat opportunities. You might contact Trout Lake Abbey in Trout Lake, WA. For directories of retreat facilities offering personal retreats or rental options, you may try: